With the season quickly winding down, Fireside takes a look at some of the players who have played a key role this year, as well as those who will look to play a pivotal role in the club’s future. We catch up with leading goal scorer (and TV star) Quincy Amarikwa about grasping this season’s opportunity with both hands. Romanian international Razvan Cocis makes his Fireside debut as he discusses what it was like playing in Ukraine amidst the unrest prior to his arrival in Chicago.
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Also featured in this edition of Fireside, we go one-on-one with Assistant Coach Clint Mathis and fan favorite Patrick Nyarko. In addition, make sure you check out our profile on Chris Lintott - a Fire Season Ticket Holder living across the pond.

After four years of waiting, the World Cup is finally here. With all eyes turned to Brazil this month and Major League Soccer taking a break from action, Fireside takes a look back on all 20 Fire World Cup alums. We also take the time to catch up with Fire technical director Brian Bliss and Fire assistant coach Brian McBride on some of their favorite memories from the tournament, as well as how the US soccer landscape has changed over the years.

Sticking with the World Cup theme, be sure to check out Between the Headphones with the Fire’s Brazilian midfielder Alex, as well as additional features on Logan Pause, Quincy Amarikwa and the new Chicago Fire Soccer Center.

With an exciting new season fully underway, Fireside welcomes some new faces around the club with in-depth features on Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Lovel Palmer and Harry Shipp. Meanwhile, C.J. Brown also makes his Fireside debut to discuss his return to the club where he became a legend and his hopes for the 2014 season.

Off the pitch, we take a deeper look at the Chicago Fire Soccer Center and the progress being made. With Harry Shipp and Victor Pineda making history last month by becoming the first two Fire homegrown players to make their MLS debut for the first team, we also examine how the Academy is reaching new heights and well on its way to producing more local rising talent.

Welcome to the Winter 2013/14 Issue of Fireside Magazine. While soccer may not always be top of mind during the off-season, there is still plenty to look back on from the 2013 season. In this edition of Fireside, we go 1-on-1 with Chicago native Mike Magee following an unforgettable season that saw him crowned as the 2013 Volkswagen MLS MVP. The Fire forward discusses his goals, role models, and which sport he first aspired to be a star in (we’re glad he eventually chose soccer). We also sit down with the club’s new Head Coach and Director of Soccer, Frank Yallop, to learn more about his career as both a player and a coach.

After successfully launching Fireside Magazine back in June, the club is excited to unveil Issue 2 of our official digital magazine. The response from both long-time supporters and those new to the team has been great and we’re excited to continue telling the stories that make the Fire a true soccer club, deep with tradition, honor and passion.

As you slide through the pages of Issue 2 on your browser, smart phone or tablet, we hope you enjoy learning something new about the club’s history and the players and coaches that proudly adorn the Fire crest today. In this issue, you’ll find special features on the enigma that is former Fire defender Francis Okaroh, Juan Luis Anangono’s arrival to Chicago as well as a closer look at the typical matchday experience at Toyota Park, including what our very own Kevin Egan calls the “True Football Experience.”

Have you ever wondered what players are listening to when they step off the team bus before a big match? What about where the first team enjoys eating out in one of the best food cities in the world? Maybe you’ve even found yourself wishing you knew more about the roots of the beautiful game in our city.

Welcome to Fireside – the Chicago Fire’s official digital magazine. With the launch of this exciting new publication, the club hopes to give supporters the opportunity to hear the stories that help make the Chicago Fire, the team, its supporters, and also our city, truly unique. Inside Fireside you will find a collection of stories, photos and videos that you may have not heard or seen from the Fire before. Every three months, a new edition will be released in hopes of providing exciting features and in-depth coverage of the Fire first team and the club as a whole. We hope you enjoy reading issue 1 as much as we enjoyed putting it together…